We agreed to seek enlightenment together, but how did you end up seeking enlightenment for my mother

Xu Zhou originally wanted to check the situation, but upon hearing Chi Feng howl, he immediately lay down under his robe, closed his eyes, and pretended to be dead.

Recalling his past experiences, he couldn't help but feel that he might have been a bit too brave.

Although he was indeed at an informational disadvantage, the thought that he dared to steal relics right under the noses of several powerful figures, and more importantly, not only succeeded but also survived to this day, was unbelievable.

Even now, Xu Zhou still doesn't understand what the switch Ya Qingyan gave him is for, or what role she played in that game of chess.

Why did the human-machine loli disregard her own well-being and instead help him overcome his difficulties?

It can't really be because of so-called "mother's love," can it?

Xu Zhou vaguely felt that this human-machine mother had probably achieved some kind of goal, especially at the moment the transmitter shattered. He felt as if something had been added to his body, but when he tried to understand it, he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

It seems that everyone has their own secrets.

Fortunately, he had it too.

[Obtained a copy of your innate essence.]

[True Source of Destiny: The purest mystical energy, applicable to all matters.]

"Stop pretending to be asleep, get up!"

boom!

Having been kicked in the buttocks, Xu Zhou had no time to carefully read the rest of the instructions and had to stagger to his feet while clutching his robe.

He did not forget his identity as a sacrificial offering, so he kept his head down obediently. He did not need to perform deliberately. He was naturally very curious about the surrounding environment and quietly observed around, showing the most authentic reaction of an ordinary person.

At this moment, Chi Feng was also shirtless. He first circled around Xu Zhou, then reached out and lifted the latter's chin to examine him closely.

Xu Zhou suppressed the urge to kick him, and took the opportunity to scrutinize the middle-aged man in front of him.

Time has left too many marks on this person; the hardships and vicissitudes are written between his eyebrows and eyes, and his body is covered with light brown scars, most of which are burn marks left after burns.

Despite his age, he remains robust and agile, with strong and upright muscles and a clearly defined six-pack.

This is also the fundamental reason why Xu Zhou did not choose to fight immediately... Even if the opponent was not a superhuman, with his untrained office worker body, he probably would not be able to withstand three moves.

"An ordinary person? How did you get up here?"

Faced with the undisguised suspicion in Chi Feng's eyes, Xu Zhou simply went along with the performance, since he really had no idea about it.

"Father, is the ceremony over?" Xu Zhou's body stiffened, his eyes darting around. "I...I...can I go back now?"

Chi Feng immediately smiled.

"Go back? Where do you think you're going back to? We're in the 'heaven' right now."

However, the next second, the priest's expression turned serious as if turning the pages of a book, and he grabbed Xu Zhou's shoulder, pressing him firmly to the spot.

"Wait, I remember you. You're the guy hanging on the chain, aren't you? You're pretty clever!"

Xu Zhou instinctively tightened his anus and tried his best to control his expression.

"You may have mistaken me for someone else..."

"It's you! Where in the outer ring can you find a man as clean-cut as you? Not a single scratch on your body. You're obviously captured from the Alliance, haha!"

Xu Zhou's lips twitched violently, thinking to himself that the Zoroastrian Church really doesn't do anything good!

Human trafficking, illegal sex trafficking, live sex sacrifice... pure cult!

The question is, how come there are so many believers in this desolate place? What exactly is Zoroastrianism promising them?

As for the Alliance forces, he had heard from his human-machine mother that they were supposedly the most civilized and developed region on the planet, where people not only never lacked food and clothing, but were even assigned bionic robots to assist in various tasks.

Yes, all sorts of things.

"Why didn't I end up in Alliance territory? If I had started this way, maybe a gentle, mature, android-like robot would have kindly and tenderly awakened me, instead of being captured and forced into a Zoroastrian ceremony as a sacrifice, only to be forcibly recognized as a relative by a bot."

The thought that at this very moment, there might actually be some people in this world enjoying the attentive service of a white-stockinged, twin-tailed android girl made Xu Zhou feel even more resentful and uneasy.

As a time traveler, I've really lost all my prestige.

Chi Feng chuckled a few times, his face contorted with wrinkles more unsightly than when he was crying. As if to confirm that Xu Zhou posed no threat, he released his grip.

"You don't have any mystical energy within you, so you really aren't a superhuman."

After saying that, he casually pulled the black robe that Xu Zhou was holding in his arms.

I tried it on briefly, but found the size wasn't right, so I threw it back.

"..."

Xu Zhou silently took it, but didn't dare to put it on on the spot. He just kept holding it, while thinking about how to get out of there.

He remembered that he did indeed have a divine ability called [True Source Implosion], which had the effect of consuming his natal true source to unleash a powerful energy release, and he happened to have a [natal true source] at the moment.

The question is... did this move actually activate the friendly fire effect?

As for the incomplete relic [Silent Death (1/5)] that he had just refined, Xu Zhou only glanced at it briefly before confirming that he did not meet the conditions for using it at present. The current situation also did not allow him to study it further, so he had to put it aside for the time being.

Even after multiple verifications, Chi Feng did not completely lower his guard against Xu Zhou, and frowned as he began to mutter to himself again.

"If you're just an ordinary person, why weren't you burned to death? In the end, I should have sacrificed everyone else, so why are you the only one still alive?"

"An ordinary mortal not only managed to maintain his sanity and avoid collapsing, but also survived being burned alive by the sacred flames, and even ended up forming a challenge team with me in the Celestial Realm?"

"Ha! Mortals! Since when have mortals been qualified to participate in invitation challenges?"

As he finished speaking, Chi Feng became increasingly excited, his arms involuntarily opening wide as he stared intently at Xu Zhou, as if he had discovered some rare treasure.

Xu Zhou wasn't stupid; he immediately sensed what the other person was thinking.

Nine times out of ten, people suspect he possesses a secret treasure.

But before deciding to go all out against the other side, he still had to pretend, so he shrank his neck and looked like he didn't know what was going on.

"I...I don't understand. Do you need me to fight in the ring?"

Snapped!

Chi Feng didn't waste any more words and snapped his fingers.

Swish!

A golden thread instantly shot out from his palm, binding Xu Zhou tightly in the blink of an eye. The speed was so fast that no one had time to react.

Chi Feng grabbed one end of the silk thread and pulled hard, forcing Xu Zhou to stumble and fall to the ground.

[The relic "Hair of the Witch's True Words" has been discovered. Should you choose to refine it?]

Squeezing it! So cautious?!

Xu Zhou cursed inwardly, but just as he was about to select "yes," the prompt from "Rotten Wood Blossoms" suddenly rang in his mind again.

[Refining an owned relic will first involve a battle against mysterious energy. Do you wish to begin?]

No! No! No!

If it came down to a battle of energy, what would that be like? He's just an ordinary person; without external help, he'd probably lose instantly!

Xu Zhou could easily understand Chi Feng's behavior. If it were him, he would definitely try to lower Chi Feng's guard with words first before launching a surprise attack.

It was a surprise attack.

Now that things have come to this, Xu Zhou has no choice but to consider whether to engage in a direct confrontation with the other side, as their excessive caution has completely eliminated any possibility of maintaining peace between the two sides.

Being around such a person requires constant vigilance to avoid being betrayed. Without basic trust, cooperation is out of the question.

"What do you want to do most right now?" Chi Feng suddenly asked casually.

"I'll find a way to kill you," Xu Zhou blurted out.

Rationality -9.

What happened?!

Xu Zhou was shocked, his muscles tensed instantly. His reply was completely unthinking, an instinctive response.

"That's right, it's a strand of truth hair!"

"He used the power of the relic on me!"

This was the first time Xu Zhou had personally experienced the effects of the relics on him. In that instant, his mind seemed to be shrouded in a shadow, and he was in a daze, not knowing where to go. He only remembered to give the most straightforward, truthful, direct, and incisive answer in a timely manner.

Then he revealed the truth that was deep in his heart, a truth that even he himself hadn't thought much about.

The experience was wonderful, but the ending was not pleasant.

Then came another question that started at zero frames.

Do you know where the Olympic flame is?

"Know."

Rationality -9.

A fierce glint flashed between Chi Feng's brows. He leaned forward slightly, looked down, and stared intently at Xu Zhou's face. His breathing became increasingly rapid, and he could hardly wait any longer.

It's just like a gold prospector finding glittering specks in a bowl of sand.

"Hehe, just as I thought! Just as I thought!" The priest grinned, almost squeezing out a few syllables through his teeth.

Feeling the extremely aggressive gaze from the other side, Xu Zhou broke out in a cold sweat, realizing that something was seriously wrong.